Wildlife in a warming world

Wildlife photographers have captured moving images of species that are threatened by global warming and gathered them in a traveling show that will be on exhibit until the end of the year at the San Francisco Main Library.

These animals may no longer be among us under disturbing forecasts of a 10-degree increase by the end of the century if greenhouse gases go unchecked.

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Kevin Schafer

Emperor penguin chicks

The exhibit is entitled, “Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World,” and visitors can admire an array of wildlife — tortoises, shrimp, Pacific salmon and a clutch of fluffy emperor penquin chicks in the Antarctica. On mountain peaks, we see animals like mountain goats, wolverines, bighorn sheep and the American pika that don’t have many other places to hide as warmer weather hits higher elevations.

The Florida panther is already in trouble, and is expected to lose habitat. Unlike Florida citizens, it won’t be able to move to better territory. The photographers want their 40 images to inspire protective action.

Connie Bransilver

Florida panther

The exhibit is put together by the International League of Conservation Photographers as well as Earthjustice, Noah Alliance, Restoring Eden and Conservation International.

Photographer Susan Middleton, a Bay Area native who for 30 years has been telling the chilling stories of vanishing species, is speaking Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Main Library’s Koret Auditorium from 6-7:30 p.m.,100 Larkin St., at Grove. She is working on a book, “Evidence of Evolution,” photographing specimens from the California Academy of Science’s research collection to be published in concert with Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday. Her books include, “Witness” and “Sliding Toward Extinction.”

Wendy Shuttil/Bob Rozinski

Mountain goats

UPDATE: On Tuesday, Dec. 16, there will be a free panel at the Main Library in San Francisco from 6 to 7:30 p.m., entitled “Climate Change and Bay Area Wildlife.” Speakers from the Institute for Fisheries Research, Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, California Academy of Science, Golden Gate National Recreational Area and Golen Gate Audubon will present.